Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared Tuesday that he expects the international community to formally acknowledge Iran's right to nuclear technology before the end of the Iranian calendar year, which concludes on 20 March 2007. Speaking at a Tehran press conference, he later clarified that he was referring to diplomatic recognition rather than completion of a full nuclear fuel cycle.
Ahmadinejad acknowledged that finishing the fuel cycle would require far more infrastructure, noting that roughly 60,000 centrifuges must eventually be brought online. Iran activated a second uranium enrichment network last month, comprising two cascades of 164 centrifuges each, capable of enriching uranium to between 3 and 5 percent. The country aims to have 3,000 centrifuges operational by 20 March 2007.
The president firmly rejected any suspension of enrichment activities, arguing that Iran operates within its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. He also expressed doubt that the UN Security Council would approve sanctions against Iran, while acknowledging the country had prepared for that possibility.
The United States and Western governments allege Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this, maintaining its program is intended solely for civilian electricity generation.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.